No cures for hurting Cougars

PASADENA, Calif. – No miracle cures. That was the word this week with the injuries that have hit the Washington State Cougars.

The most visible hit was taken in the backfield, with Chris Ivory out with a hamstring strain.

The junior was working against the scout team Wednesday and tried to accelerate through a gap near the sidelines. As he exploded, so did his muscle, with Ivory grabbing the back of his leg and hobbling to stop.

With Ivory back in Pullman on Saturday night, the Cougars paired freshman Kevin Norrell with Chantz Staden on kickoffs against UCLA – Ivory has returned 10 for a 26.7-yard average including a long of 68 yards – and moved Staden up the depth chart at the running back spot.

Though Ivory, who has rushed for 136 yards while averaging 4.9 a carry, was the most noticeable absence in the Rose Bowl, there were others not available at the start, including wide receiver Daniel Blackledge.

The sophomore starter was also left behind when his separated shoulder – suffered early in the Oregon game – wouldn’t allow him to go this week. Freshman Jared Karstetter started in his place.

Steven Ayers, who was moved to left tackle at practice and designated the starter, lost that spot after two practices. An injured shoulder kept him from practicing back in Pullman. Will Hunter was given an opportunity at right tackle, but a finger broken Wednesday put him back, so Micah Hannam retained the starting spot.

Vaughn Lesuma will stay as the starter at left tackle, so the Cougars were starting the same offensive line two consecutive games for only the second time this year.

Cornerback Tyrone Justin suffered a slight quad pull Tuesday, but it was enough to cost him a start. Devin Giles, who started every game in 2007 but none so far this year, moved into Justin’s spot.

Senior linebacker Cory Evans made the trip, but his hamstring problem wouldn’t allow him to suit up.

There was one comeback. Defensive end Kevin Kooyman, who missed the Oregon game with what was termed a slight high ankle sprain, was back on the field and started against the Bruins.

One early success

UCLA was forced to punt on its first possession, only the second time all season WSU’s defense was successful on the opponent’s first possession. The other time came in its only win, against Portland State.

The first quarter ended 0-0, the first time that’s happened in a Cougar game since the loss to Arizona State last year.

You could be a WSU QB

The injury bug decimated the quarterback position earlier, with the loss of senior Gary Rogers (neck) for the season and junior Kevin Lopina (back) for at least a couple more weeks.

With the two out, WSU is a little thin at the position during practice.

To alleviate the situation, the Cougars will hold a tryout Monday at 3 p.m. for a scout team quarterback, open to WSU students.

To tryout, prospects need to stop by the football office with proof of insurance to sign up for a shot. Without being cleared, players won’t be able to participate in the tryout at Rogers Field.

No unusual weather

It rained a little in Pasadena on Saturday. Nothing unusual in that. Statistically, it rains more in the Arroyo Seco than it does in Pullman.

The yearly annual rainfall for the Eastern Washington city, according to the Weather Channel, is 21.01 inches. But in Pasadena, the land of eternal sunshine? The total would be 21.08.

WSU streak ended

Going into the game, WSU had won six of the last seven and 10 of the last 14 times it played the Bruins, the Cougars best streak in the series by a wide margin.

From 1967 to 1978, UCLA won 12 consecutive games in the series, with scores ranging from 62-3 (1976) to 17-13 (1974).

The most points WSU has scored against UCLA is 48 in a 2002 win.